Neck Protecting Scarf and Method of Use Thereof

ABSTRACT

A neck protecting scarf having a central elastic section that contracts to provide a secure grip around a person&#39;s neck. The upper and lower portions of the neck protecting scarf flare to accommodate the person&#39;s face and shoulders. The neck protecting scarf is secured via fasteners, such as buttons and loops, with the top button/loop being placed such that it provides for a closer fit to the person&#39;s face than the lower button/loop, which allows wider flaring at the bottom for the person&#39;s shoulders. The neck protecting scarf may include a fixed or removable shawl, or may include a fixed or removable hood, thereby protecting a person&#39;s neck and torso from cold conditions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

None

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to apparatuses utilized to protect a person's neck, particularly from cold weather, and more particularly to a neck protecting scarf that is elasticly secured around the neck, with top and bottom portions that flare outward.

2. Description of Related Art

During cold weather, it is often desirable to cover a person's neck and/or face with an additional, easily removable garment to keep wind and cold from the face. Also, a person's head may need to be protected, and the person's shoulders may also need to be protected from the cold.

Typically, the means for protecting a person's neck is via a scarf comprising a loose, flexible length of material, suitably selected to provide the degree of protection and/or warmth to the person so wearing it. The scarf is wrapped about the neck and is typically secured by tucking the ends of the scarf into other clothing. Unfortunately, the bulk of the scarf under other clothing may be uncomfortable, and further, the ends of the scarf may come loose from the clothing under which it is secured, thereby unwrapping and/or otherwise coming loose and allowing wind and/or cold in to the person's neck. Further, the scarf may come sufficiently loose as to fall off the person, wherein it may become soiled, sullied or otherwise begrimed. Lastly, upon coming loose, a scarf may be lost or misplaced.

Additionally, while a scarf that is long enough could be wrapped around a person's head or shoulders, such scarf would typically be very cumbersome and of little use when such additional covering is not required.

Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a need for a neck protecting apparatus that extends upward, flaring to protect the face and downward, flaring to protect the shoulders, and which further can accommodate head protection and/or shoulder/torso protection.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such an apparatus by providing a neck protecting scarf having a central elastic section that contracts the middle of the scarf to provide a secure grip around a person's neck. Upper and lower portions of the scarf flare to accommodate the person's face and shoulders. In cold weather the apparatus is covers the person's face, but in warmer weather, the top portion can be folded downward to uncover the face when so desired. The neck protecting scarf is secured via buttons and loops, the top button being placed such that it provides for a closer fit to the person's face, with the lower button providing a wider flare for the shoulders. The apparatus further selectively includes a fixed or removable shawl, or a fixed or removable hood.

According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention in its preferred form is a neck protecting scarf comprising a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, a right edge, a center point, and elastic that extends from the point only partially towards the left edge and the right edge, and from the center point only partially towards the top edge and the bottom edge. The neck protecting scarf has a horizontal axis between the left edge and the right edge. When the elastic is contracted, the top edge and the bottom edge become longer than the horizontal axis, and when the elastic is expanded, the top edge and the bottom edge are substantially equal in length to the horizontal axis.

The neck protecting scarf also has a left section, one limit of which is defined by the left edge, and has a center section, a right section, an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion. The elastic is disposed entirely within the center section and the middle portion, selectively entirely below, or substantially below, the center point.

The neck protecting scarf further has first and second halves of a first cooperative fastener, and first and second components of a second cooperative fastener. The first half is disposed within the upper portion and the left section near the top edge approximately half-way across the left section from the left edge, and the second half is disposed on the right section within the upper portion on the right edge near the top edge. The first component is disposed in the left section and the lower portion, near the left edge and the bottom edge and the second component is disposed within the lower portion and the right section, on the right edge near the bottom edge.

The neck protecting scarf selectively includes a shawl portion that is secured, either fixedly or removably, to the bottom edge and/or a hood portion that is secured, either fixedly or removably, to the top edge.

The neck protecting scarf is utilized by disposing same around a person's neck and securing same via at least one fastener. In the alternative embodiments, the neck protecting scarf has a shawl portion that is disposed around and over at least the shoulders of the person, and/or a hood portion that is disposed over the head of the person.

More specifically, the present invention is a neck protecting scarf having a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, a right edge and a center point. The scarf further includes a center section, a left section, a right section, an upper portion, a middle portion, a lower portion, a horizontal axis, a vertical axis and elastic. The elastic is disposed substantially below the center point within the middle portion and the center section, extending from the center point partially along the horizontal axis towards the left edge and the right edge and along the vertical axis partially towards the top edge and the bottom edge.

The top edge and the bottom edge are substantially equal in length, and when the elastic is fully expanded, the horizontal axis between the left edge and the right edge is substantially equal in length to the top edge and the bottom edge. When the elastic is contracted, the top edge and the bottom edge become longer than the horizontal axis between the left edge and the right edge, thereby causing the upper portion and the lower portion to be longer than the middle portion, wherein because they are now longer, the upper portion and the lower portion flare forward or backward from the middle portion.

The scarf further comprises a first fastener and a second fastener that are cooperative. The first fastener has a first half and a second half, and the second fastener includes a first component and a second component. The first fastener and the second fastener are, for exemplary purposes only, buttons and loops.

The first half, or button, of the first fastener is disposed near the top edge approximately half-way across the left section from the left edge, and the first component, or button, of the second fastener is disposed near the left edge and bottom edge. The second half, or loop, of the first fastener is disposed on the right edge near the top edge, and the second component, or loop, of the second fastener is disposed on the right edge near the bottom edge.

In use, the scarf is placed on the neck of a person and is subsequently secured around the neck via the first and second fasteners. The upper portion flares outwardly from the middle portion and the neck, thus expanding around the face, and the lower portion flares outwardly from the middle portion and the neck, thus expanding to drape over the top of the shoulders.

In an alternate embodiment, the neck protecting scarf further comprises a shawl having a top edge that is secured to the bottom edge of the scarf. The shawl is selectively removably secured to the scarf via a hook-and-loop fastener, or fixedly secured to the scarf. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that any suitable fastener could be utilized in place of the hook-and-loop fastener.

In use, the scarf portion is disposed on the neck of the person, and is subsequently secured around the neck via the first fastener and the second fastener. The shawl thus covers at least the shoulders of the person and may be wrapped around the person's torso.

In another alternate embodiment, the neck protecting scarf further comprises a hood having a bottom that is secured to the top edge of the scarf. The hood is selectively removably secured to the scarf via a hook-and-loop fastener, or fixedly secured to scarf.

In use, the scarf portion is disposed proximate the neck of person and secured via the first fastener and the second fastener. The hood is selectively installed over the head of the person, thereby covering the head, or removed from the head, thereby uncovering the head.

Accordingly, a feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to protect a person's neck from cold weather.

Still a further feature and advantage of the present invention is that the top portion can be folded downward to uncover the face when so desired.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide a shawl to cover and protect a person's shoulders from cold.

Still another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide a hood for covering and protecting a person's head from cold.

Yet another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to conform to the neck, face and shoulders of a person.

Yet still another feature and advantage of the present invention is that it protects a person's neck from sunlight radiation damage.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description of the Preferred and Selected Alternate Embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the outside of a neck protecting scarf according to a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the neck protecting scarf of FIG. 1A, shown with elastic fully stretched;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the neck protecting scarf of FIG. 1A, shown from the front of a person while being worn;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the neck protecting scarf of FIG. 1A, shown from the rear of a person while being worn;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inside of a neck protecting scarf according to an alternate embodiment with attached shawl;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the neck protecting scarf of FIG. 3, shown from the front of a person while being worn;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inside of a neck protecting scarf according to an alternate embodiment with attached hood; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the neck protecting scarf of FIG. 5, shown from the front of a person while being worn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND SELECTED ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In describing the preferred and selected alternate embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A-6, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A-2B, the present invention in a preferred embodiment is neck protecting scarf 10, wherein scarf 10 preferably comprises top edge 20, bottom edge 30, left edge 40, right edge 50 and center point 60. Scarf 10 further preferably comprises center section 250, left section 260 and right section 270. Scarf 10 further preferably comprises upper portion 70, middle portion 80, lower portion 90, horizontal axis 100, vertical axis 110 and elastic 120, wherein elastic 120 is preferably disposed within middle portion 80 and center section 250, and wherein elastic 120 preferably extends from center point 60 partially along horizontal axis 100 towards left edge 40 and right edge 50 and along vertical axis 110 partially towards top edge 20 and bottom edge 30. Elastic 120 is preferably disposed substantially below center point 60, and is selectively disposed entirely below center point 60.

Top edge 20 and bottom edge 30 are preferably substantially equal in length, and when elastic 120 is fully expanded (best shown in FIG. 1B), horizontal axis 100 between left edge 40 and right edge 50 is preferably substantially equal in length to top edge 20 and bottom edge 30. When elastic 120 is contracted (best shown in FIG. 1A), top edge 20 and bottom edge 30 preferably become longer than horizontal axis 100 between left edge 40 and right edge 50, thereby causing upper portion 70 and lower portion 90 to be longer than middle portion 80, wherein upper portion 70 and lower portion 90 preferably flare forward or backward from middle portion 80.

Scarf 10 further preferably comprises first fastener 130 and second fastener 160, wherein first and second fasteners 130, 160 are, preferably, cooperative fasteners, wherein first fastener 130 preferably comprises first half 140 and second half 150, and wherein second fastener 160 preferably comprises first component 170 and second component 180. First fastener 130 and second fastener 160 comprise, for exemplary purposes only, buttons 140, 170 and loops 150, 180. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that other forms of fasteners 130, 160 could be utilized, either cooperative or non-cooperative, such as, for exemplary purposes only, hook-and-loop fasteners, safety pins, snap fasteners, and the like, and further that a single fastener could alternatively be utilized.

Button 140 is preferably disposed proximate top edge 20 approximately half-way across left section 260 from left edge 40, and button 170 is preferably disposed proximate left edge 40 and bottom edge 30. Loop 150 is preferably disposed on right edge 50 proximate top edge 20 and loop 180 is preferably disposed on right edge 50 proximate bottom edge 30. First fastener 130 is disposed to provide a closer fit to person P's face F when scarf 10 is in use, while second fastener 160 is disposed to provide a wider fit, thereby permitting flaring over person P's shoulders.

In use, scarf 10 is preferably disposed proximate neck N of person P, wherein scarf 10 is preferably subsequently secured around neck N via first fastener 130 and second fastener 160. Upper portion 70 preferably flares outwardly from middle portion 80 and neck N around face F and lower portion 90 preferably flares outwardly from middle portion 80 and neck N draping over shoulders S. In cold weather the scarf 10 selectively covers the person's face, but in warmer weather, the upper portion 70 is selectively folded downward to uncover face F when so desired.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4, illustrated therein is an alternate embodiment of neck protecting scarf 10, wherein the alternate embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 is substantially equivalent in form and function to that of the preferred embodiment detailed and illustrated in FIGS. 1A-2B except as hereinafter specifically referenced. Specifically, the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises alternative scarf/shawl combination 190, wherein alternative scarf/shawl combination 190 comprises scarf 10 and shawl 200, wherein shawl 200 comprises top edge 210, and wherein top edge 210 of shawl 200 is secured to bottom edge 30 of scarf 10. Shawl 200 is selectively removably secured to scarf 10 via fastener 280, such as, for exemplary purposes only, a hook-and-loop fastener, or fixedly secured to scarf 10. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that any suitable fastener could be utilized in place of hook-and-loop fastener without departing from the spirit of the alternate embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4.

In use, scarf 10 portion of alternative scarf/shawl combination 190 is disposed proximate neck N of person P, wherein alternative scarf/shawl combination 190 is subsequently secured around neck N via first fastener 130 and second fastener 160, as described more fully hereinabove for the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1A-2B. Shawl 200 is secured by scarf 10, wherein shawl 200 covers at least shoulders S of person P, wrapping around torso T.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 5 and 6, illustrated therein is an alternate embodiment of neck protecting scarf 10, wherein the alternate embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 is substantially equivalent in form and function to that of the preferred embodiment detailed and illustrated in FIGS. 1A-2B except as hereinafter specifically referenced. Specifically, the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 comprises alternative scarf/hood combination 220, wherein alternative scarf/hood combination comprises scarf 10 and hood 230, wherein hood 230 comprises bottom 240, and wherein bottom 240 of hood 230 is secured to top edge 20 of scarf 10. Hood 230 is selectively removably secured to scarf 10 via fastener 290, such as, for exemplary purposes only, a hook-and-loop fastener, or fixedly secured to scarf 10. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that any suitable fastener could be utilized in place of a hook-and-loop fastener without departing from the spirit of the alternate embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6.

In use, scarf 10 portion of alternative scarf/hood combination 220 is disposed proximate neck N of person P, wherein alternative scarf/hood combination 220 is subsequently secured around neck N via first fastener 130 and second fastener 160, as described more fully hereinabove for the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1A-2B. Hood 230 is secured on person P by scarf 10, wherein hood 230 is selectively installed over head H of person P, thereby covering head H, or removed from head H of person P, thereby uncovering head H.

The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims. 

1. A neck protecting scarf comprising: a left edge; a right edge; a center point; and elastic, wherein said elastic extends from said center point partially towards said left edge and said right edge.
 2. The neck protecting scarf of claim 1, further comprising a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein said elastic extends from said center point partially towards said top edge and said bottom edge.
 3. The neck protecting scarf of claim 2, further comprising a horizontal axis between said left edge and said right edge, wherein when said elastic is contracted, said top edge and said bottom edge are each longer than said horizontal axis.
 4. The neck protecting scarf of claim 3, wherein when said elastic is expanded, said top edge and said bottom edge are substantially the same length as said horizontal axis.
 5. The neck protecting scarf of claim 2, further comprising a left section, a center section, a right section, and first and second halves of a first cooperative fastener and first and second components of a second cooperative fastener, wherein said first half is disposed proximate said top edge approximately half-way across said left section from said left edge, and wherein said second half is disposed on said right edge proximate said top edge, and wherein said first component is disposed proximate said left edge and said bottom edge, and wherein said second component is disposed on said right edge proximate said bottom edge.
 6. The neck protecting scarf of claim 2, further comprising a left section, a center section, and a right section, wherein said elastic is disposed entirely within said center section.
 7. The neck protecting scarf of claim 6, further comprising an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion, wherein said elastic is disposed entirely within said middle portion substantially below said center point.
 8. The neck protecting scarf of claim 7, further comprising at least one cooperative fastener having a first half and a second half, wherein said first half is disposed within said left section approximately half way across said left section from said left edge, and wherein said second half is disposed on said right section proximate said right edge.
 9. The neck protecting scarf of claim 3, further comprising a shawl portion, wherein said shawl portion is fixedly secured to said bottom edge.
 10. The neck protecting scarf of claim 9, wherein said shawl portion is removably secured to said bottom edge.
 11. The neck protecting scarf of claim 3, further comprising a hood portion, wherein said hood portion is fixedly secured to said top edge.
 12. The neck protecting scarf of claim 11, wherein said hood portion is removably secured to said top edge.
 13. A method of protecting a person from weather, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining a neck protecting scarf comprising a left edge, a right edge, a center point, and elastic, wherein said elastic extends from said center point partially towards said left edge and said right edge; disposing said neck protecting scarf around a person's neck; and securing said neck protecting scarf via at least one fastener.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said neck protecting scarf further comprises a shawl portion, said method further comprising the step of: disposing said shawl around and over at least the shoulders of the person.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said neck protecting scarf further comprises a hood portion, said method further comprising the step of: disposing said hood portion over the head of the person.
 16. A neck protecting scarf comprising: a left section, a right section, a center section, an upper portion, a middle portion, a lower portion, and elastic, wherein said elastic is disposed entirely within said center section and said middle portion.
 17. The neck protecting scarf of claim 16, further comprising a center point, wherein said elastic is disposed entirely below said center point.
 18. The neck protecting scarf of claim 16, further comprising a shawl portion.
 19. The neck protecting scarf of claim 16, further comprising a hood portion.
 20. The neck protecting scarf of claim 16, further comprising a left edge, a first fastener comprising a first half and a second half and a second fastener comprising a first component and a second component, wherein said left edge defines a limit of said left section, and wherein said first half of said first fastener is disposed within said upper portion and said left section, approximately half way across said left section from said left edge, and wherein said second half is disposed on said right section within said upper portion, and wherein said first component is disposed within said lower portion and said left section, and wherein said second component is disposed within said right section and said lower portion. 